Wang Chi-chen (1899–2001)
Source: Dream of the Red Chamber (1958), p. 7
"I Died as a Mineral", as translated in The Mystics of Islam (1914) edited by Reynold Alleyne Nicholson, p. 125
Variant translation: Originally, you were clay. From being mineral, you became vegetable. From vegetable, you became animal, and from animal, man. During these periods man did not know where he was going, but he was being taken on a long journey nonetheless. And you have to go through a hundred different worlds yet.
As quoted in Multimind (1986) by Robert Ornstein
Context: I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; but even from angelhood
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.
Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, To Him we shall return.
Wang Chi-chen (1899–2001)
Source: Dream of the Red Chamber (1958), p. 7
Van Morrison (1945) Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician
Listen to the Lion
Song lyrics, Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)
Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese artist, poet, and writer
The Anthem of Humanity
The Vision: Reflections on the Way of the Soul (1994)
Context: I have existed from all eternity and, behold, I am here; and I shall exist till the end of time, for my being has no end.
I soared into limitless space and took wing in the imaginal world, approaching the circle of exalted light; and here I am now, mired in matter.
I listened to the teachings of Confucius, imbibed the wisdom of Brahma, and sat beside Buddha beneath the tree of insight. And now I am here, wrestling with ignorance and unbelief. I was on Sinai when Yahweh shed his effulgence on Moses; at the River Jordan I witnessed the miracles of the Nazarene; and in Medina I heard the words of the Messenger to the Arabs. And here I am now, a captive of confusion.
Jack London (1876–1916) American author, journalist, and social activist
Variant: "I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." also mentioned as Jack London quote in Ian Fleming book You Only Live Twice (1964), Ch. 21 : Orbit
Source: San Francisco Bulletin in 1916. Also included as an introduction to a compilation of Jack London short stories in 1956.
René Guénon (1886–1951) French metaphysician
La crise du monde moderne (The Crisis of the Modern World) (1927)
Johnny Mercer (1909–1976) American lyricist, songwriter, singer and music professional
Song I Remember You
Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American inventor and businessman
"Do We Live Again?" an interview with Edison, as quoted in Mr. Edison's New Argument from Design" in The Illustrated London News (3 May 1924).
1920s
Alfred Horsley Hinton (1863–1908) British photographer
Source: Practical Pictorial Photography, 1898, How expression may be given to a picture, p. 34